Paper Cutting Fundamentals: How to Cut Tricky Letters

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to cut out text that flows as though it's written by hand - and you'll make a unique greetings card in the process. It's got a very sweet message so you'll be able to make it time and again. Let's get started.

Want to Do It Digitally?

This tutorial teaches you to cut out paper letters by hand, but if you want to create the same effect on the computer, try the Paper Cut Art Photoshop Actions on Envato Market. You can create complex paper-cutting effects for text or images with just a few clicks.

1. Transfer the Design to the Paper

Step 1

Step 2

Trace the design onto your tracing paper.

Step 3

Position the tracing paper face-down on the larger piece of watercolour paper. It needs to be positioned on the inside front of your card. The larger square should line up with the outside of your paper. Use a little masking tape to fix it in place.

Step 4

Scribble firmly over the tracing paper. You may find it easier to use a harder-lead pencil for this (like HB). You don't need to scribble over the bigger square.

Step 5

Remove tracing paper to reveal a reverse image of the design on the inside of your card. Thicken up the pencil lines of the design if required. The lines inside the smaller square will be the width of the remaining paper once the cut is complete, so if you would like a bolder type, just make the lines a little bolder.

It is best to do it this way so the front of the card remains pristine, and when you cut from the back any minor flaws in your cutting are disguised.

2. Cut Out the Design

We want the letters on this card to be fine and delicate, as though written with a pencil. The aim is for the lines to flow naturally. This requires thoughtfulness when you’re cutting around the letters. The cut lines are the edges of the pencil lines - inside the smaller square the pencil lines will be the only paper left once the cut is completed.

Step 1

As with any papercut, start with the smallest pieces and cut them out first. This will be the insides of ‘o’, ‘a’, ‘e’, and ‘d’, the inside of the loop of the ‘y’ and underneath the cross bar of the ‘t’.

When cutting a corner, cut away from the point in both directions - this will result in a neater cut.

When cutting a tight curve, it is often easier to use the point of your scalpel to make lots of tiny cuts. One smooth cut is very difficult to achieve on a tight curve and attempting it can result in an accidental corner.

Step 2

Cut the space to the right of the loop on the 'y', remembering you are to cut just on the edge of the pencil mark. The down stroke of the ‘y' needs to line up with the inside of the ‘y’s loop so that the line flows and it doesn't look disjointed.

Step 3

Cut the space to the left of the loop of the 'y’. Where the loop of the ‘y’ crosses itself to join with the ‘o’, ensure your cut is nicely lined up with the inside of the ‘y’ loop.

The second tricky letter to negotiate in this section is the ‘e’ of ‘rather’. The cuts should line up perfectly with the inside of the loop.

In contrast, the part of the 'e' in 'are' shouldn't line up with the inside of the loop as it's outside of the line.

The final tricky cuts in this section are lining up the upstrokes of the 't' and the 'h' of 'rather' with the loop underneath the crossbar of the 't'.

Step 4

Now move to the space between ‘rather’ and ‘wonderful’, to the right of the ‘d'. The only tricky part of this section should be lining up the loop of the 'y'.

Step 5

To the left of the 'd' there are two more 'e's to negotiate. The first is in 'rather'.

The second is in 'wonderful'.

Also the 'f' must line up with the outside of its loop.

Step 6

The space underneath ‘wonderful’ to the right of the ‘f’ comes next. You have the underneath of the ‘e’ to line up.

You must also ensure the loop of the ‘f’ flows neatly to join with the ‘u', while lining up with the inside of its loop.

Remember to use your metal ruler when cutting the straight edges of the square.

Step 7

To the left of the ‘f’ you need only worry about completing the loop of the ‘f’.

Step 8

Now complete the final section. You have an 'e' to line up, which you should be an expert on by now!

Also ensure the join between ‘y’ and ‘o’ lines up with the outside of the loop of the ‘y’.

Now you've completed the paper cut, you should have something like this in front of you.

If you turn it over, the writing should make a bit more sense!

3. Complete the Card

Step 1

Glue the fabric carefully in place around the edges of the cut. Don’t glue the letters to the fabric.

Step 2

Cover the back of the fabric by gluing the square of watercolour paper to the inside of your card. Make sure you only apply glue around the edges.

Step 3

Place the card under a heavy book to dry flat. Once dry, fold your card.

Give Your Card to Your Favourite Person

In this tutorial you learnt how paper cut tricky letters in a cursive script. You also learned how to make a beautiful and unique greetings card.

Now that you've mastered these letters, have a go at writing your own message in cursive script, and transferring and cutting around the letters. You could even frame the card for a lovely piece of art.

Do you love paper cutting? What else what you like to learn how to make?